Partey, Elneny sidelined for Manchester United crunch tie due to injury
Gritty Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey and Egyptian star Mohamed Elneny are set to miss Arsenal’s crunch tie with Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday due to injury.
Partey aggravated his thigh injury while training, with Elneny succumbing to a hamstring injury.
Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta revealed that the mercurial duo need some more time to recover having already missed their 2-1 win over Aston Villa.
Undoubtedly this is a major blow to the Gunners who were hoping to have the players available for what is probably their toughest test in the current season.
“With Mo [Elneny], it’s probably a little bit easier and we are talking months,” Arteta said.
“With Thomas, hopefully, we are talking weeks or even shorter than that, I hope.”
Arteta is worried about Partey’s recurring injury which has affected him since he joined the club.
He has also missed some of Ghana’s national team assignments due to the nagging thigh injury.
“We have tried to manage [Thomas]. A lot has happened since he joined and we are trying to find the best possible way to find the reason why that happens.
“Unfortunately, the body and mind are two different groups, so sometimes to understand that you can’t put your finger on a single thing to try to prevent something happening.
“The attitude of the player is there and he’s really disappointed to be out again, as you can imagine, and the team needs him when he’s back.”
On the contrary, the Spaniard revealed that Aaron Ramsdale and Oleksandr Zinchenko could be available for the clash against the Red Devils.
“Those two [Ramsdale and Odegaard] are being assessed. We will see more tomorrow [Saturday]. Hopefully, they will be able to train with the team,”Arteta said.
“Unfortunately, with Alex [Zinchenko], that’s still not the case. He missed two games and has not been able to train with the team yet.”
Arsenal remain unbeaten so far this season but they plunge into the Old Trafford fully aware that the resurgent Manchester United can burst their bubble considering the current sizzling form.
The Red Devils are coming from a 1-0 victory over Leicester City and will be hoping to maintain their winning momentum.